This tale of friendship and survival, set during the days of the 1860s focuses on a roguish group of runaways living by their wits and natural instincts.

Two of them in particular are complementary opposites: Drew is a good boy from God-fearing stock in Ohio, out West to evade the draft and Jake is a scruffy scoundrel - a saddle tramp not above a little larceny here and there.

Along the trail they encounter a variety of varmints and renegades.

And eventually they find themselves older and wiser for the journey and friendship.